Automated Solar Pool Heating Valve Manifold Explained In this video, we explain how our automated solar valve heating manifolds work. The manifold shown here is based on our standard valve setup. Your valves may vary due to a variety of circumstances, but this is the most common arrangement for manifolds installed by Florida Solar Design Group. Keep in mind, your …
Solar Pool Heating Valve Manifold Explained
If you are wondering how a solar pool heating valve manifold works, you have come to the right place. Below is an explanation of each component in the plumbing of a well designed solar pool heating manifold. Note: This valve manifold may be reversed left to right, and the solar bypass valve can also be installed on the return line …
Flow Rates and Flow Balancing Explained
Recently one of our competitors has been telling prospective solar pool heating clients that plumbing, valve, and panel header size don’t matter. In fact, they are even saying smaller is better. Does that make sense? It’s just nonsense, and we want to set the record straight. We use all 2 inch PVC pipe, valves, and full 2 inch inside diameter …
Solar Pool Heating How To Video Released
For our valued customers, we have released a solar pool heating how-to video that we call our Solar 101 video. This video is applicable to all past and future customers. Note that the section on valves will be most relevant to installations performed after March 2018 when we started pre-manufacturing our valve manifolds. However, our installations prior to this date …
True 2 Inch Solar Panel Headers
Jump right to the bottom of this post if you just want the proof! We have been over flow rates on this blog ad nauseam, but for good reason. Flow is critical to solar pool heating performance. One of the most important factors affecting flow rates in solar panels is the header pipe and plumbing size. One of our competitors …
Solar Pool Heating Manual
By popular demand, we have published a solar pool heating manual for our systems. This manual is supplemental to any manufacturer instructions you may have received. Since all systems are arranged and plumbed differently, it is very difficult to have a one-size-fits-all manual covering all scenarios. However, we believe our manual is general enough to cover most solar pool heating …
iSwim vs FAFCO
When comparing iSwim vs FAFCO solar pool heating panels, it all comes down to longevity and flow rate. Both solar panels are made from similar materials and are made in the USA (iSwim is made in Florida, FAFCO in California). They each come from established manufacturers. So, what factors should you consider to compare the two brands? iSwim vs FAFCO: Comparing Solar Pool …
Pool Valves With Solar Pool Heating Explained
How Swimming Pool Valves Work With so many people moving to Florida and owning their first pool, it’s not surprising that a majority of pool owners are baffled by their swimming pool plumbing system. When we endeavor to add solar pool heating, the plumbing at the pool equipment pad becomes a bit more complex, but it’s not too hard to …
Leaving Your Solar Pool Heater for Summer: What To Do
It’s May, and that means our beloved snowbirds are heading north for the summer, leaving behind their solar pool heating systems at their Southwest Florida homes. Whether you stay here year-round or follow the flock to a milder climate, it is important to understand what to do when leaving your solar pool heater for the summer. While every system is …
The Flow Imbalance Myth Debunked
When you can’t compete, confuse. That seems to be the tactic used by some of our competitors at times. The latest myth is that our solar pool heating panels have big tube openings, and therefore the flow rate is imbalanced across the panels. Of course, they leave out the science behind their claims, but why rely on facts?! The full flow tubes …
Day 6: Premium Valves & Components
This article is part of a series: The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating. When installing an iSwim Solar Pool Heating Systems, Florida Solar Design Group installs Premium Valves & Components. It doesn’t make sense to install a premium solar pool panel and then install cheap ball valves and other plumbing components that are likely to fail during the life of the system. …
A Closer Look at How Solar Pool Heating Plumbing Works
You may have already seen our explanation of how a solar pool heating system works. This is a closer look at the plumbing involved in a solar pool heating system. Solar pool heaters use your existing pump and pool plumbing with an added valve manifold to bypass the solar panels when not in use. Below is a graphic that explains …
Swimming Pool Air Suction Leak with Solar Pool Heating Panels
When there is air in the filter basket of a swimming pool pump, it often gets blamed on the solar pool heater, but that’s impossible because the solar pool heater comes after the pool pump and any air in the pump housing would have to come from the suction side of the pump. Usually a suction leak occurs at the …